Cold-blooded NYC killer who gunned down childhood friend in ‘evil act’ learns fate as victim’s family tears into her: ‘No remorse’

A cold-blooded slayer who gunned down her puerility friend connected a crowded Brooklyn thoroughfare has shown “no remorse” successful nan years since nan shocking slaying — and nan motive remains a enigma moreover arsenic she was sentenced connected Monday. 

Claudia Banton, 46, deserved to rot successful situation for nan “evil act,” unfortunate Delia Johnson’s grieving relatives said successful Brooklyn Supreme Court earlier nan convicted murderer was slapped pinch a 23-year-to-life situation sentence.

“It’s an enactment of axenic evil and what makes it moreover much achy is that she showed nary remorse for what she did,” Johnson’s brother, Mathis Lemons, 51, told Justice Margaret Martin astatine nan hearing, urging nan judge to propulsion nan book astatine Banton.

“My sister’s slayer should ne'er spot nan world again,” Lemons said.

Banton showed nary emotion arsenic Johnson’s family expressed daze that nan female they erstwhile took into their location had turned retired to beryllium their kin’s killer. 

“I saw you arsenic family astatine 1 constituent successful my life,” Johnson’s daughter, Ladeya Jenkins, 21, told Banton. 

“To opportunity this hurt, I cannot moreover opportunity that. That’s putting it lightly.”

Johnson’s sister, Khadijah Berry, 31, echoed nan heartrending sentiment.

“You and her were friends… but what collapsed my bosom is knowing you did it and knowing really you did it to my sister,” she said.

Banton was convicted connected April 3 of second-degree execution and second-degree criminal possession of a limb for nan gruesome execution-style killing, which took spot extracurricular different friend’s ceremonial connected Franklin Avenue successful Crown Heights connected Aug. 4, 2021. 

Banton and Johnson were erstwhile friends, but nary accusation astir nan killer’s motive came retired complete nan people of her trial, which lasted a small little than a month.

Authorities said Banton blasted nan 42-year-old mom astatine slightest 5 times successful beforehand of shocked mourners, sending them moving for cover.  

“The first changeable wasn’t capable for this defendant,” Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney Michael Diamond told nan tribunal during nan sentencing. 

“She stepped complete and pulled nan trigger again and again arsenic group ran for their lives.”

Chilling constabulary bodycam video shown during nan proceedings captured a wounded Johnson bleeding retired from her eyes arsenic she laic face-up, gasping for air.  

Her slaying was besides caught connected surveillance footage. 

Police stopped Banton successful her achromatic Mercedes moments aft nan shooting, but she was fto spell aft witnesses claimed nan shooter was a man. 

Banton said to constabulary for illustration “nothing happened” erstwhile she was pulled over, nan charismatic said.

Three months later, US Marshals tracked Banton down successful Jacksonville, Fla. aft she changed her quality — including by wearing a blonde wig — and deleted her societal media. 

It remains a enigma why Banton killed her erstwhile friend, whose family fto her unrecorded pinch them aggregate times. 

“The first clip I saw you pinch chains on, it collapsed me,” Johnson’s mom, Delia Berry, recalled wrong nan courtroom arsenic she shook pinch emotion and held photos of her beaming daughter.

“It collapsed my heart,” she said.

“I took attraction of you.”